Eighties popsters Spandau Ballet have confirmed they’re putting differences aside to embark on a comeback world tour. With the whiff of cash-strapped desperation in the air, here we recall some other dodgy musical reunions...

The Beatles

The 'Threetles', aka Paul, George, and Ringo, reunited in 1995 to record two Lennon demos, "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love". Even Macca found the results snoozeworthy, judging by this studio footage.

The Doors

In 2002, members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger roped in Ian Astbury to front the karaoke-ish Doors of the 21st Century, only to be sued by original drummer John Densmore for misusing the Doors name.

Queen

On 2008 comeback LP The Cosmos Rocks, they replaced the one and only Freddie Mercury with the utterly indistinguished Paul Rodgers, and turned from pomp rockers to pub rockers in one fell swoop.

Spice Girls

The Girls’ 2007 return began in a blaze of hype, but it ended with reports of them playing to half-empty arenas in the US, and a single, "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)", that limped into the charts at No 11.

Sex Pistols

The aged punks re-formed in 1996 for the aptly titled Filthy Lucre tour, which included this disastrous Swedish gig, and have been trading on their early notoriety to diminishing returns ever since.